FORT WORTH — The combination was too exquisite to resist: LeAnn Rimes’ sublime vocals, the gorgeous string section of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the tight musicianship of the Garland-raised singer’s touring band. During “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way,” the 29-year-old vocalist’s most absorbing ballad, the collaboration further elevated an already stunning song.

Rimes graced the Bass Hall stage Saturday night for about 90 minutes during her debut performance with the FWSO. The sold-out show celebrated the 20th anniversary of the greater Fort Worth affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. It was a homecoming for Rimes and for opening act Tim Halperin, the Fort Worth singer-songwriter who landed in the Top 24 of American Idol’s 10th season.

Much of Rimes’ set was dedicated to cover tunes from her late 2011 album Lady & Gentlemen, a collection of country songs originally written and performed by men. She roared through fast-paced rockabilly takes on Willie Nelson’s “Good Hearted Woman” and John Anderson’s “Swingin’,” then turned spooky, downbeat for a haunting version of Merle Haggard’s “The Bottle Let Me Down.” Her accompaniment varied — one number would employ her band and the symphony, and the next would use one ensemble but not the other. The flow was seamless, stitched together by Rimes’ chatty, quirky between-song banter.

She’s matured nicely as a stage presence. Rimes always had the pipes, but she frequently seemed awkward when she wasn’t hitting a note. Not anymore. She treated the audience like old friends, talking us up as if we were all in her living room.

That spilled into her interpreting skills. “Blue,” her career-launching hit from 1996, took on grander meaning thanks to her deep, measured delivery and the majestic symphony arrangement. “How Do I Live,” a formulaic ballad that hasn’t aged well, sounded more believable in her adult voice. The only surprising song she sang was an acoustic, encore rendition of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” Rimes offered a lovely version, but it was an odd choice for an encore when she had so much of her own material at the ready.

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About Mario Tarradell

Mario has covered a variety of popular music genres, from pop and rock to country and Latin music since he arrived at The News in 1994. A native of Cuba who was raised in Miami, he also enjoys reviewing movies and books. He's an avid music collector, from vintage vinyl albums to CDs and even cassettes. He's also an avid reader of classics and more modern works. And he collects celebrity posters from the 1970s and 1980s. Follow him on Twitter @MarioTarradell

Hometown: Miami

Education: Mario has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from St. Thomas University.